Limbo Dev Not A Fan Of Physical Media Retail Model

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Digital distribution has changed the way that PC gamers buy video games, and it’s been totally awesome. Yes, there is some frustration when it comes to having to deal with different digital distribution platforms and a few overbearing terms of service, but for the most part, digital distribution platforms like Steam, GamersGate, and Impulse give PC gamers some great deals without ever having to leave the house.

That’s convenience if I ever saw it, but unfortunately, console manufacturers have been slow to embrace digital distribution. Sure, Xbox Live Arcade and the PlayStation Network are great services that provide a lot of excellent downloadble titles, but for the most part, the PS3 and Xbox 360 are primarily disc driven platforms.

Dino Patti, head of Limbo developer Playdead Studios, is not a fan of the disc-based retail system used by modern consoles. In a new interview with Eurogamer, Patti explained the problem he has with the physical medium:

The retail model has always been and still is broken, from a developer’s point of view. Driving discs in a big van all over the world is really inefficient. I don’t understand how anyone can make money out of this. Driving a truck to Japan just to get it delivered to people when they can get it from the net? Hopefully the new consoles will embrace the download space even more.

On the other side of the coin, Patti questioned the need for installs if we’re going to be forced to use discs:

Why did I get a console if the games need to be installed? That really sucks. That’s a PC. It should be more like plug and play. The first consoles were cartridges. When it takes one hour to install Gran Turismo 5? I don’t know. Obviously it improves performance, but they should be able to build consoles with better performance from the disc drive.

I certainly agree with Patti there, and I would also like to see console manufacturers shift to a digital-friendly model sometime soon. Then again, I have a pretty solid internet connection that doesn’t have any kind of download cap, and I know that not everyone is lucky enough to have the same kind service available in their area, so I can recognize the need for physical media.

In any case, it looks like Patti is going to have to wait before consoles make such a significant shift, because Sony has already said that physical media will remain an integral aspect as we move into the next generation of PlayStation. Microsoft has yet to tell us whether the next Xbox will primarily use physical or digital media, but I think it’s safe to assume that the next Xbox will still be using discs.

What do you think? Will discs be around for some time to come, or will digital distribution replace physical media entirely in the coming years? Head down to the comments section below and sound off!